Slide fastener tape joining device



June 18, 1963 G. FERRI-:LLA 3,093,893

SLIDE FASTENER TAPE JoINING DEVICE:

Filed July 1'7. 1961 60. llyj PATENT AGENT United States Patent O 3,093,893 SLIDE FASTENER TAPE JOINING DEVICE Guido Perrella, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, assigner to Clix Fastener Corporation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed July 17, 1961, Ser. No. 124,561 4 Claims. (Cl. 29-200) This invention `relates to a device for joining the two tapes of a slide fastener chain.

A slide fastener chain comprises a pair of tapes each having a series of fastener elements fixed to a corded edge thereof, the tapes being joined together by inter. locking the elements of each tape. In the manufacture of the chains, each tape is individually form-ed and it is necessary subsequently to join the tapes in element interlocking relation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple device for joining the two tapes of a fastener chain by interlocking the fastener elements thereof in a rapid, automatic and satisfactory manner.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of a machine in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation,

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevation ofthe fastener tape engaging portions of the machine, and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the tape guiding means.

In the drawing, 1 is a supporting base and 2 a spacer block fixed thereto and disposed substantially centrally between the sides of the base. Mounted in fixed relation on the block 2 are upper and lower fastener tape guides 3 and 4, such guides being `substantially identical in form. Guide 3 has a pair of converging recesses 5 in its lower surface and gui-de 4 has a pair of converging recesses 6 in its upper surface in complementary or mating relation to recesses 5 to form therewith a pair of converging tapereceiving channels 7. While the yangle of inclination of each channel may vary, `an `angle of 20 to 25 (as shown, 22) to the longitudinal axis of the guide is satisfactory. Each channel has a tape entrance 8 at one side of the guides. The channels converge at a point 9 spaced from the adjacent end of the guides a short distance, say, about 3A; inch, and continue as a single channel section 10 to the end of the guides where a fastener chain exit 11 is formed.

Guide 3 has a pair of fastener element engaging ribs 12 disposed in recesses 5 and guide 4 has a complementary pair of fastener element engaging ribs 13 disposed in recesses 6 each rib 12 being verti-cally `aligned with and slightly spaced from one of the ribs 13. The ribs of each pair have converging portions 12a and 13a extending approximately from the point of convergence of the channels 7 and disposed at substantially the same angle of convergence. The ribs of each pair also have a pair of substantially parallel portions 12b and 13b adjoining the exit 11.

In accordance with the invention, one of a pair of fastener tapes 14 is adapted to be fed into each channel 7 through entrance 8. Each fastener tape has a corded edge 1S on which `are mounted a plurality of series of conventional fastener elements 16. It will be apparent that the tapes are fed into the guides with the elementmounted edges thereof in facing rel-ation, as shown. As the tapes enter channel section 10, the inner edges of the fastener elements (which project from the tape on both sides thereof) are engaged by the ribs 12 and 13 While the main portion of each tape extends between a pair of ribs 12 and 13, as clearly shown in FIGURE 3.

As shown, the base 1 has a recessed area 60 over which Mice the exit end of the guides are suspended, such area 60 having ared side walls 61.

It will thus be apparent that, as a pair of tapes are drawn through the guides, the ribs 12 and 13 will gradually force the fastener elements of one tape into interlocking relationship with those of the other tape, and the two pairs will emerge from the exit 11 in joined relation to form a fastener chain. It will be understood that the width of the exit portion of channel section 10, as dened by the spacing between a pair of ribs 12 and 13 and the other pair of ribs 12 and 13 will be `approximately equal to the width of interlocking element portion of a fastener chain.

In practice, a pair of tapes are drawn through the device and Wound upon a spool or the like which is driven to pull the tapes through the machine and produce a spool of fastener chain.

Fastener chains normally comprise a plurality of successive interlocked tape sections alternating with gapped sections (i.e., sections free from interlocking fastener elements), individual fasteners being subsequently formed by severing the chain across each gapped section. It will be apparent, therefore, that a multiplicity of successive tape joining operations will occur in the production of a length of fastener chain. In order that jamming of fastener elements does not occur during the initiation of each interlocking operation, it is highly desirable that the initial elements of each serie-s thereof from the two tapes be placed in correct interlocking relation as they come into engagement with each other, and an important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of means to accomplish ythis purpose.

This means will now be described and comprises a pair of b-locks 62 each iixed to a side portion of the base. Fixed to one block 62 is a plate 17 and to the other block a plate 18, each plate 17 and 18 having a portion 17a, 18a projecting towards each other and suspended over the base.

A U-shaped member 19 is pivotally mounted between plate pontion 17a and the base by means of a pivot 20 mounted in portion 17a and engaging one leg 21 of the member and a pivot 22 mounted in the base and engaging the other leg 23 of the member. As shown, each leg 21, 23 is recessed at 24, 25 to receive a clamping plate 26, 27 which is xed to the leg by screws 28, 29. It will be apparent that the plates 26, 27 provide portions of the bearings for pivot pins 20, 22 whereby a desired degree of bearing pressure may be applied to the pins.

Also clamped between each leg 21, 23 and a clamping plate 26, 27 is a nger 30, each such linger having `a projecting portion 31 aligned with the projecting portion 31 of the other finger. Each such projecting portion 31 has a groove 32 therein for reception of the inner end of a guide 12, 13 (FIGURE 3), and an end flange 31a disposed in adjacent relation to a rib 12 or 13.

A U-shaped member 33, somewhat similar to member 19, is pivotally mounted between plate portion 18a and the base by means of a pivot 34 mounted in portion 18a and engaging one leg 35 of the member and a pivot 36 mounted in the base and engaging the other leg 37 of the member. As shown, each leg 35, 37 is recessed at 38, 39 to receive .a clamping plate 40, 41 which is fixed to the leg by screws 42, 43. As before, the plates 40, 41 provide portions of the bearings for -pivot pins 34, 36.

Also clamped between each leg 35, 37 and a clamping plate 40, 41 is a finger 30, fthe groove 32 in the projecting portion 31 of which receives the inner end of a guide 12, 13.

It will be apparent that the U-shaped members 19, 33 may be swung to a position (illustrated in full lines in FIGURE 1) wherein the pairs of fingers 30 are in angular relation to each other and wherein one linger ange 31a of each pair is in the path of a portion of a fastener element on one side of a tape and the other finger fiange 31a of each pair is in the path of the portion of a fastener element on the other side of the tape, it being understood that such fastener elements will be the initial ones of the series of elements on the tapes. Means are provided for disposing one pair of fingers slightly in advance of the other pair of fingers with respect to the relative paths of travel of the two tapes, the degree of advance positioning being exactly that required to ensure proper intermeshing or interlocking of the fastener elements of the two tapes. Such means comprises a con necting rod 63 having upright end portions 64 one of which is pivotally mounted on an ear 44 carried by member 19 and the other of which is pivotally mounted on an ear 45 carried by member 33.

Means are provided for yieldingly holding `the U-shaped members 19, 33 with fingers 30 in the paths of the converging tapes and comprises a spring 46 having one end hooked to an end portion 64 of the connecting rod and its other end connected to the base.

It will be apparent that any minute misrelation of a complementary series of interlocking elements on the two tapes will be corrected when the initial elements of the two series engage the respective pairs of lingers 30. Since the tapes are moving continuously through the guides, the U-shaped members 19, 33 will instantaneously thereafter swing forwardly under the inliuence of the tape movement but will swing open to permit exit of the interlocked tapes. Means may be provided for limiting the forward swinging movement of the members 19, 33 and such means may comprise stops 47, 48 carried by the plates 17, 1S.

It will be understood that the members 19, 33 will remain in forward position until the end of interlocked series of fastener elements has passed therebetween but will then swing rearwardly under the inuen-ce of spring 46 when' the succeeding gapped section of the tapes arrives therebetween. The fingers 30 are then in position for engagement by the initial ones of the next series of fastener elements on the two tapes.

During initial threading of the two tapes through rthe guides, it is desirable that the U-shaped members be swung forwardly out of the way. This may be accomplished manually by providing a lever 49 pivotally mounted in brackets 50, 51 fixed to the base, the lever having an arm 52 engaging the forward surface of U-shaped member 19 outwardly of its pivotal axis and swingable through a slot 53 in the base in response to pivotal movement of the lever to swing the members 19, 33. The lever has a second arm 54 swingable downwardly to pivot the lever by means of a rod 55 on which may be mounted an operating pedal 56. A spring 57 connected to the rod 55 and to the base acts to return the rod and lever to their original position.

I claim:

1. A slide fastener tape joining device comprising a base, upper and lower tape guide members fixed to said base and forming therebetween a pair of horizontally Idisposed converging tape receiving channels, a pair of fastener element engaging ribs on each of said guide members, each said pair of ribs having a converging section leading from the convergence of said channels and a parallel section, one rib of each said pair of ribs being in vertically aligned spaced relation to one rib of the other of said pair of ribs and fastener element positioning means comprising a pair of members swingably mounted about a vertical axis on said base, a pair of fingers in spaced vertical alignment carried by each said member, stop means defining one position of said swingable members, a spring yieldably holding said members in said one position, each said finger having a fastener element engaging end portion disposed between a pair of said ribs in said one position, one of said members having, in said one position, its said fingers in closer relation to said channel convergence than said fingers of the other of said members.

2. A slide fastener tape joining device as defined in claim l, each said member being swingable away from said one position to a second position wherein said end portions of said fingers are disposed outwardly of the ends of said ribs.

3. A slide fastener tape joining device as defined in claim 2, including manually operable means for moving said members to said second position.

4. A slide fastener tape joining device comprising a base, upper and lower tape guide members fixed to said base and forming therebetween a pair of horizontally disposed converging tape receiving channels, a pair of fastener element engaging ribs on each of said guide members, each said pair of ribs having a converging section leading from the convergence of said channels and a parallel section, one rib of each said pair of ribs being in vertically aligned spaced relation to one rib of the other of said pair of ribs, and fastener element positioning means comprising a pair of U-shaped members swingably mounted about a vertical axis on said base, each said member having upper and lower legs, a finger fixed to and extending perpendicularly from each said leg, said ngers of each said member extending towards each other in spaced vertical alignment, a connecting rod pivotally connecting a leg of one of said members with a leg of the other of said members, and spring means yieldingly holding said members in one position, cach said finger having a fastener element engaging end portion disposed between a pair of said ribs in said one position, one of said members having, in said one position, its said fingers in closer relation to said channel convergence than said fingers of the other of said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,287,263 Nedal lune 23, 1942 2,838,381 Aubuchon June 17, 1958 2,949,666 Rogers Aug. 23, 1960 

1. A SLIDE FASTENER TAPE JOINING DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE, UPPER AND LOWER TAPE GUIDE MEMBERS FIXED TO SAID BASE AND FORMING THEREBETWEEN A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CONVERGING TAPE RECEIVING CHANNELS, A PAIR OF FASTENER ELEMENT ENGAGING RIBS ON EACH OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS, EACH SAID PAIR OF RIBS HAVING A CONVERGING SECTION LEADING FROM THE CONVERGENCE OF SAID CHANNELS AND A PARALLEL SECTION, ONE RIB OF EACH SAID PAIR OF RIBS BEING IN VERTICALLY ALIGNED SPACED RELATION TO ONE RIB OF THE OTHER OF SAID PAIR OF RIBS AND FASTENER ELEMENT POSITIONING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF MEMBERS SWINGABLY MOUNTED ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS ON SAID BASE, A PAIR OF FINGERS IN SPACED VERTICAL ALIGNMENT CARRIED BY EACH SAID MEMBER, STOP MEANS DEFINING ONE POSITION OF SAID SWINGABLE MEMBERS, A SPRING YIELDABLY HOLDING SAID MEMBERS IN SAID ONE POSITION, EACH SAID FINGER HAVING A FASTENER ELEMENT ENGAGING END PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID RIBS IN SAID ONE POSITION, ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING, IN SAID ONE POSITION, ITS SAID FINGERS IN CLOSER RELATION TO SAID CHANNEL CONVERGENCE THAN SAID FINGERS OF THE OTHER OF SAID MEMBERS. 